Gunnery Sergeant Coco Adel disliked routine. The Marine Corps though seemed to love it, considering all the timetables and regulations. She was always eager for a mission to appear because that would always break routine. Not that she loved all the death and suffering, but she hated routine. It was one of the reasons she wasn't ranked higher, because of her unorthodox ways to do most things.
Also, she disliked authority, and could be very petty about that. One of the reasons she accepted going into a ship with a risky mission with little to no parameters was because she wanted the freedom that would entice.
Another reason was her cute little bunny friend, that was eager to do something important, and being accepted to this mission was a way for that. Coco also wanted to keep her best friend safe, so all fell together to make that mission something pleasant for the short haired Marine. Seeing Velvet flirting with the CO of the ship also was a big plus.
But even there in the Nagato routine could settle in. It was not every day she would have the chance of shooting mechanical worms, see her best friend transforming a moon in the most awesome hellfire ever or win a dispute with Major Pyrrha Nikos over destroying enemy drones while the ship was hurling towards a piece of a planet that explode to pieces. But they were still at the Cat system, as they assembled the puzzle that was the destruction of Cat-2. By 'they', Coco meant everyone else but her. And as a week passing by, routine settled in.
She would wake up, take a bath and keep thanking the ship's designer for the roomy quarters where she even had stall so to not allow the two stooges, as Weiss called Neptune and Sun, to even have a chance to stare at her while bathing. Then she would fix her uniform, especially her favorite bonnet and sunglasses (because she thought of them as fashionable) and go to the mess hall to eat breakfast. There was no real time table for meals, but there was a rotation of cooks, and they weren't available all the time. If she missed the time for them, she would have to make her own meal. And today was the Captain's turn.
It was always his turn when the morning shift was up to them. Coco was the main gunner, Sun the secondary, Neptune the helmsman, Ren the engineer and most of times Velvet was the communications officer. The second crew was led by Cmdr. Goodwitch, with Yang as pilot, Nora as engineer, Ruby and Pyrrha as gunners and Blake as comm. Penny was always present if she wasn't helping at engineering. Weiss simple assumed the role of supply officer, a job that fit her immensely. Of course, they would rotate on those jobs as needed, but now it is a usual day, to Coco little displeasure.
She arrived to see everyone else on her shift was already there. She grabbed her tray, with sausages, toasts and eggs and the biggest cup of coffee she could. Sure, nothing of that was the real thing she read in books, but she needed to eat and have her shot of caffeine. And she didn't know how Jaune did it, but he made it tastes great. If they ever came back to Remnant, she would demand to serve under him forever if she could eat that food often.
Talking about the captain, there he was eating his food and talking with Velvet, the girl happily talking about what they expected from the next system. Coco smiled seeing both were having a good time, glad to see the blonde man was such a nice person. But she would break his legs and arms if he hurt her friend, and she made a mental note to tell him that sooner than later.
By their side was Ren, the boy drinking tea and revising some data, mostly ignoring the talking around him. Coco never understood how he could withstand Nora's antics, but she saw weird couples before, and she wondered why those two refused to assume a relationship. On her side of the table was Petty Officers Wukong and Vasilias, the duo snickering and talking on whispers, and if Coco didn't knew, he would assume they were exchanging sweet nothings to each other. But that was a sign that the two were about to prank someone, as the two promised themselves to prank everyone on the ship at least once. She imagined it would be someone outside their shift this time, and since they got everyone on fireteam RWBY already (and spent a day at the med bay after messing with Yang's hair); she assumed their targets would be Nora or Pyrrha. They were saving to prank Glynda another time, one were they could be sure they would survive her wrath or not getting caught.
"OK, everyone, finish eating so we can relieve the others at the bridge. They won't be happy if we are late." Jaune said as he put the last piece of sausage on his month and gulped the rest of his juice before walking away with Velvet. Coco finished her breakfast soon to follow them, not because she wanted to keep an eye on the captain and her friend, of course.
The Nagato's bridge while on Glynda's shift was always a sight to behold. Yang was laughing her ass off, while Ruby was blushing and yelling back at her sister. Pyrrha was doing her best to keep composure, but her red cheeks showed she also was a victim of the blonde girl's antics, while Nora and Penny pestered the older officer about whatever dirty talk Yang delivered that day.
"Time to change the shift, ladies." Jaune said with a smirk, and Coco noticed the relieved expression on the Commander's face. As they left, Yang winked and sent a kiss to Jaune, the boy blushing. Pyrrha also gently touched his arm in her way out. It was painfully obvious those two girls and Velvet liked the captain, but he was too oblivious to notice. Coco thought of interfering, but only because the bunny girl forbid her, that and the fact that it was too entertaining to stop so soon.
They sat on their posts and after checking everything it come the usual 'look at screens to see if something come their way'. Coco's longest run on that game was thirty seconds. In fifteen she was already bored and decided to speak her mind.
"Skipper, how long you intend to stay here?" She asked as she turned on her chair.
"Do we know what happened to Cat-2 yet?" He answered but directed the question to Ren and Velvet.
"Well, theory is that a micro singularity worked as a white hole and exploded the planet, but no signs of it yet. Other theory is that they tried some new technology that doomed them." The black haired engineer spoke first.
"Or evil aliens." They all turned to Velvet, making her blush over the sudden realization she said something unusual and in a way too cheery tone. "W-we did found a-aliens, why not e-evil ones?"
"Well, I am sure I would love to shoot evil aliens." Coco smirked and fixed her sunglasses.
"I would rather not encounter evil aliens if they can just blow up a whole planet." Sun protested.
"Don't be a chicken."
"I am not a chicken!"
"You did pass out over pictures of dead aliens." Neptune chimed in the teasing.
"Dead things are scary! And they just popped out without proper warning!" Sun defended himself.
"Look, no one is shooting anything! I would rather run away than creating a reason for aliens of any kind to try to sink my ship. But, I am tired of waiting; we are going to get some answers now." Jaune said and Coco raised an arm in celebration, routines would end that day. Ren looked at him surprised.
"Aren't we avoiding getting closer to the planet' debris due to the automated defense systems?"
"Yeah, but we won't get answers sitting here and theorizing while trying the long range sensors. I will take the chance. Put the ship in red alert, Neptune, we will do it fast. I want a fly by the center of the debris. Ren, Velvet, get all data you can, after that we will leave to the jumping point. Coco, fire anything that fly in our direction, otherwise hold it. No need to disturb a wasp's nest. Sun, try to not pass out."
"Aye aye skipper!" they all shouted as they prepared to go.
"Captain, wouldn't that disturb the rest of the crew?" Penny asked, and Jaune smirked.
"They will survive."
…
"I hate him." Weiss stated as she drunk a cup of coffee. She was preparing to sleep in when the red alert came, and she was forced to get in her battle station with the rest of the crew, and was only able to sleep three hours after they left the area. So, she was now sleep deprived and very cranky. Not that she was the only one cranky at the moment.
"At least you don't discovered Sun and Neptune thought as funny to mix cereal with your shampoo. I am still finding flakes on my hair." Pyrrha said as she indeed found another flake on her long ponytail.
"Well, at least was not pancake syrup. I had to deal with Nora trying to lick my hair." Yang said with a smirk. "Oh, and talking about our dear captain..."
Jaune approached with Coco, the two had a mischievous smile as they looked at the displeased faces of their fellow crew members. The ship was currently in autopilot to go to the jumping point. Coco sat at the table while Jaune fixed them some coffee.
"Skipper, are you aware of the meaning of the word mutiny?" Weiss asked as Jaune chuckled and scratched his head.
"Come on, who we would put as captain? Goodwitch, Penny?" Coco wondered as Jaune gave her a mug of coffee.
"Anyone but Ruby." Weiss stated, and Yang laughed.
"Come on, my sister is a great leader. Besides, I am pretty sure the skipper did it for a reason… because otherwise I might add some more weight on our training." Yang playfully, but truthfully, menaced, making Jaune laugh uncomfortably.
"We collected some data on Cat-2 situation. And initial analysis is pretty good on getting us an answer. Penny?"
"Initial data says that a great gravitational disturbance happened at the center of the planet a hundred years ago. We found that was probably a micro singularity in its path. The people on the planet probably didn't saw it coming."
"Awful way to go…" Weiss commented sourly.
"At least it wasn't evil aliens." Jaune said, and Coco pouted a little. She certainly would love to fire the guns a bit more. "And now we are going to the Dingo system."
"Who came up with the naming scheme?" Yang asked curiously.
"Prof. Peach. She is almost pathologically shy so not a lot of people know of her. She is the lead astronomer of the project. Here, I have a picture." Jaune showed the picture of the cutest little tiger Faunus ever, with cute sakura and pink colored hair, tail and ears. Yang immediately fawned over her.
"I want…" She said as she looked at Jaune's scroll.
"What we want?" Neptune asked as he entered with Sun.
"You two just volunteered to help me train." Pyrrha said as she got up and grabbed the two by their collars. "I promise to be extra nice with you two."
"Captain!" The two yelled at Jaune as Pyrrha dragged them out.
"She is your superior officer. And I learned to never mess up with a girl's hair." Jaune stated and waved at the two soon to be dead boys. "Honestly, if they had seven sisters they would never play that prank."
"Seven sisters should have bred lots of awkward situations." Coco said, and Jaune nodded. "I bet you saw them naked a lot, eh?"
"EXCUSE ME!" Weiss got up and rushed away before the two girls could start the teasing and naughty implications.
"Way too many times. I am pretty sure half of them were just so they could mess with me. That is what happens when you have to share the tiny, tiny room with them." Jaune said with a sigh, shivering at the memories. Coco and Yang laughed heartily.
"You know, skipper, if you want to see a sexy naked blonde, you know where to find me." Yang said seductively, once again winking, but this time brushing her leg against his, making Jaune gag on his coffee. Coco patted his back as he coughed.
"Yang! Stop it! Heavens! I thought I was going to escape the teasing at here! You are as bad as my sisters!" He complained and Yang laughed.
"The difference is that you can do things with me if you want." Yang singed whilst wiggling her eyebrows, making Jaune widen his eyes.
"Lt. Xiao Long! Any other improper comment and I will have you test Nora's next experiment!" He screeched and she laughed and got up.
"You know, skipper, you look adorable when you get frustrated." She finished before going, while Coco laughed hard at the misfortune of her captain.
"You are lucky, Coco, not having any older sibling." He said, and noticed that Coco stopped smiling and got a frown.
"Yeah, really lucky…" She said in a tone Jaune couldn't identify. She got up and left without saying a single word. Jaune looked at her back and left out a loud sigh.
"Way to go Arc, you made a girl sad. This is why you don't have a girlfriend…"
"I think that is not the only reason, captain." Penny said objectively, making him groan out loud. When the ship's AI says that, it is clear he made a horrible mistake.
…
Coco sat at alone at the only place of the ship one could see the stars not from a screen, but from windows. The observatory deck was place in the belly of the Nagato, and was made of thick Dust-glass coated with anti-radiation film. According to the project the idea was having a way to look outside in case of emergency, but she soon discovered that there was the perfect place to relax as it was hard to get there, with many hatches to open. So she just sat there, looking at the stars and at an old picture, a rare physical one she had. She stopped when she heard the hatch open and relaxed when she saw a pair of bunny ears.
"Hey Velvet. Need me for something?" She asked in a melancholic voice.
"No, but maybe you need me. Jaune asked me to discover what he said that made you sad and how he can fix it." Velvet said as she floated to where Coco was. The observatory deck had no gravity.
"He didn't say anything on purpose. But he is just one of those lucky bastards that fail to see how lucky they are. He has a big family and complains about it." Coco stated, and Velvet sat by her side, gently touching her hand.
"It is about Caz?" Coco nodded as she looked at the picture again. A young Coco, with hair as long as Velvet's was there, and behind her a tall boy with dark eyes and hair, putting the bonnet Coco was wearing on her head, and both wearing a pair of sunglasses.
"He probably doesn't know as my brother was from a different mother, so my file probably just shows me as an only daughter. But I was once a younger sister. And I miss him."
Velvet hugged Coco. Very few people knew about Cazew Black, her half-brother. He was part of the Spacy, a pilot, and three years before the mission his bullhead was taken down by a giant Nevermore, killing him. Coco didn't like to talk about him, but before his death they were really close, and while he was a lot like Yang and Jaune's sisters in his teasing, she missed him dearly.
"If the Grimm never existed, how do you think our lives would be?" Coco wondered, and Velvet took a minute to think about.
"Without Grimm, there would be no Faunus, so I wouldn't have met you." The bunny girl answered, and Coco petted her bunny ears.
"I couldn't live without you, Vel. OK, so, imagine our lives with just a little Grimm." The two girls got in a pensive stance for a while. "OH, I know, we would go to school but it would be all about hunting Grimm! And we would be friends!"
"Oh god, why school? I hated school! With all the bullies and all!" Velvet complained but Coco laughed.
"Come on, can you imagine us all in school? Goodwitch would be a teacher; Arc would be just a meek student…"
"I can see the Commander as a teacher, but Jaune as meek? He is just… dreamy…" The bunny girl covered her blushing face with her ears, and Coco laughed loudly.
"You know, you should be more aggressive them, because Yang is not holding back. And I noticed Pyrrha is upping her game too."
"But…" Coco put a finger on her friend's lips. "No buts. He is a nice guy, you like him, go for it."
Velvet was about to answer back when they heard a click and saw the hatch opening. Jaune came from it and give them an awkward smile. They finally noticed the compromising position they were and pushed each other away, Velvet blushing madly.
"Hey, Coco. Hi Vel. I was searching for you."
"Me or the bunny?"
"You, actually. I just want to say I am sorry if I said something insensitive. I am not the brightest person around in case you haven't noticed." He said apologetically whilst scratching the back of his head, and Coco pulled her sunglasses and floated towards him, enveloping her arms around his neck and locking her chocolate eyes on his blue ones, making him and Velvet blush. "Uh…"
"You know, handsome, maybe if you give me a sweet, long kiss I might forgive you." She said as she approached her lips of his, making him stutter and blush. Then she smirked, spun both and tossed him towards Velvet, the two getting tangled as the bunny girl tried to catch him and Jaune tried to avoid the shock. Velvet shot a glare at Coco, which winked before putting her sunglasses back. "Nah, you aren't my type, skipper. Give the kiss to Vel. See ya!"
She jumped back inside the ship and closed the hatch, just imagining the two would now be stuttering excuses towards each other, yet the bunny would try to use that alone time with Jaune. With her mischievous good deed done, she decided to go pester someone else.
…
And she found the perfect target in Blake. The catgirl was in her bunker, reading whatever book she found in the archives. Coco sat in the bunker across her, glad the Nagato actually had that much of space.
"Hey kitten. So, everything back to normal?" Blake didn't moved from her scroll, but answered anyway.
"Yeah, we don't talk about it and so we are all good. I am just happy no one is acting weird around me."
"Yeah, yeah. So what ya reading?" Coco asked and tried to peek, but Blake pressed her scroll on her chest. "Oh, naughty stuff?"
"No." Blake answered but her voice cracked just a little.
"What the cat hid in her bag?" Coco singed as she tried to grab the scroll.
The two girls started to jump around the quarters for a bit until Coco grabbed Blake's ankle and the two fell down, with Coco on top trying to reach the scroll, but the black haired Faunus had her arms stretched in an attempt to keep her secrets safe. As the two struggled they failed to notice that Weiss and Ruby entered the quarters, the former looking angrily at the duo while the later blushed madly.
"You two know that our bunkers have curtains? I don't care if you two decide to be more than friends, but at least keep it private." Weiss stated as she got a clean uniform from her locker.
"What? No!" Blake tossed Coco from her and got up. "It is not what looks like!"
"This is what people say when it is." Ruby almost shouted as she walked nervously to get her clean uniform. "I am happy for you two."
"Ruby, this is not what you think it is! I swear! Coco just wanted to grab my scroll!" She showed her lit scroll to the redheaded girl, and Coco took it from her hands to her surprise.
"Ohohoho! This is what you like, 2nd Lt. Belladonna? I might say, this is the most steamiest boys…" Blake took her scroll back and turned it off while blushing madly.
"You talk about this, Sergeant, and I will have you cleaning the latrines!" Coco snickered but indeed shut up.
"Why, what are you reading?" Ruby asked, and Blake stared back.
"Nothing of importance, captain."
"You can always order Penny to reveal Blake's downloads." Weiss chimed in, not really interested on whatever the Faunus girl reads, but pleasing herself on Blake's suffering.
"You do that, and I swear I will find your cookies and recycle them as raisins." The catgirl threatened and left, leaving a speechless Ruby and a laughing Coco behind. Weiss rolled her eyes and grabbed ruby so they could shower, not giving time for the Sergeant to tease them, much to her dismay. She was about to go to the showers to make a comment when Velvet entered, blushing furiously.
"Coco! Why you did that!"
"What, will you tell me you didn't enjoyed being in the skipper's arms?" Coco said feigning being offended.
"That is not the point! It was awkward! I couldn't even speak! And he was all concerned thinking he did something wrong!" The bunny whispered shouted, before covering her face with her ears. "And… And… He said I smell like chocolate and he likes it…"
"Wait, he did? Way to go Vel! One point for the bunny! Now, all you need is a bit of skin ship with him and you are all set!" Coco celebrated, making Velvet blush madly, but not exactly against the idea. "Now, I have the perfect tiny panties for you to use."
"COCO!" Velvet blushed madly and darted off, hiding her face in embarrassment. Coco laughed and followed her.
Yeah, I am happy, I am here. You don't need to worry about me, Caz.
A.N.: Thanks to Swarley Stinson for beta reading this chapter. ^^